This study examines the history of the psychoanalytic theory of mysticism, starting with the seminal correspondence between Freud and Romain Rolland concerning the concept of "oceanic feeling." Providing a corrective to current views which frame psychoanalysis as pathologizing mysticism, Parsons reveals the existence of three models entertained... more...

"It is arguably the case," writes William Parsons, "that no two figures have had more influence on the course of Western introspective thought than Freud and Augustine." Yet it is commonly assumed that Freud and Augustine would have nothing to say to each other with regard to spirituality or mysticism, given the former's alleged antipathy to religion... more...

Religion and Psychology is a thorough and incisive survey of the current relationship between religion and psychology from the leading scholars in the field. This is an essential resource for students and researchers in the area of psychology of religion. Issues addressed are: * The Psychology-Theology Dialogue * The Psychology-Comparativist Dialogue... more...

Criminal Justice and the Policy Process develops a synthesized policy making model that explains how complex justice policy is developed, implemented, and evaluated. Unlike other texts, this study weaves together important aspects of several competing explanations of policy choice into a single model. Further, this text emphasizes the importance of... more...

Disciplining on Freud on Religion aims at evaluating the impact of Freud's understanding and interpretation of religion as it has impacted contemporary scholarship within several humanistic and social scientific disciplines, including religious studies, Jewish studies, philosophy, and the natural and social sciences. This edited collection should appeal... more...

The essays here show the interface and relevance of psychology to theology (and vice versa), and they do so in a way that will be useful to upper-level undergraduate or graduate-level courses in religious studies. The collection is also useful for presenting classic essays as well as new essays appearing here for the first time. more...

This collection of essays, offered in honor of the distinguished career of prominent political philosophy professor Clifford Orwin, brings together internationally renowned scholars to provide a wide context and discuss various aspects of the virtue of ?humanity? through the history of political philosophy. more...